Mirabai Chanu Saikhom

Mirabai Chanu Saikhom, born August 8th, 1994, in Nongpok Kakching, Manipur, India, is an Indian weightlifter competing in the 49 kg weight class. Widely regarded as one of India’s greatest female athletes, she has achieved remarkable success at the Olympic, World, and Commonwealth levels.

Chanu began lifting weights at a young age in Manipur, a state known for producing talented athletes. She made her international debut at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where she won silver in the 48 kg category, signaling her potential on the global stage. Her breakthrough came in 2016 at the World Weightlifting Championships in Tashkent, where she won gold in the 48 kg category, becoming the first Indian woman to win a World Championship title in weightlifting.

Chanu’s rise continued at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, where she captured gold in the 48 kg division with a total lift of 196 kg, breaking the Games record. That same year, she competed at the Asian Games, finishing 4th in the 48 kg category and demonstrating her consistency against the continent’s best lifters.

Her most iconic moment came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (held in 2021), where she won silver in the 49 kg category with a total lift of 202 kg (87 kg snatch and 115 kg clean&jerk). This historic medal marked India’s first Olympic medal in weightlifting in two decades and elevated Chanu to national hero status.

In 2022, Chanu won gold at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, lifting a total of 201 kg in the 49 kg class. She also competed at the World Championships in Bogotá, finishing 2nd with a total of 200 kg, narrowly missing a podium finish. Throughout her career, she has consistently ranked among the top female lifters globally in her weight category.

Chanu’s best competition lifts include 88 kg in snatch and 119  kg in clean&jerk. She is a World Champion, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, and Olympic silver medallist, and her achievements have inspired a generation of athletes in India and beyond.

At 29 years old, Mirabai Chanu continues to compete at the highest level, representing India with pride and aiming for further success at upcoming World Championships and the 2028 Olympic Games. Her technical skill, consistency, and resilience make her one of the greatest weightlifters of her generation.